matt’s Story

Matt’s journey into public service began long before he held elected office. Born and raised in Somerville and the son of janitors, he grew up in a working-class family grounded in humility, hard work, and service to others. His father passed away when he was 12, and he supported his single mother and his four siblings through turbulent times.

He enlisted in the Army in 2003 and served two tours in Iraq. While abroad, he heard stories of childhood friends who succumbed to substance abuse and crime. Others could not afford to live in the city they grew up in and were displaced. Eventually, a close family friend was murdered around the corner from his childhood home. This tragedy and the root issues that caused it inspired Matt and his siblings to get involved in the community. They organized local youth to speak firsthand about their needs and experiences, and fought for affordable housing, local jobs and substance abuse treatment. 

In 2013 Matt ran for city council in his neighborhood of East Somerville. He was an underdog candidate at a time when progressive candidates were far from guaranteed victories. He won his first seat with hard work and a message of being a uniter by representing the best of old and new Somerville. He was elected city council president for three consecutive years at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic,ensuring the government remained open and the needs of the most vulnerable residents were met. 

A seasoned political campaigner,  Matt served as Sen. Jehlen’s campaign manager in 2016, where she won with 80 percent of the vote. He also was the volunteer field coordinator for Bernie Sander’s 2016 primary. In 2017 he led and won an insurgent campaign on those progressive values with a slate of city council candidates to make affordability the top priority in the city. 

Matt lives in East Somerville with his wife, Maura and their four year old son William. He worked at the US Department of Labor assisting homeless veterans in finding employment. He served as a Union shop steward in The American Federation of Government Employees Local 948. He went to Tufts University on the GI Bill and graduated with a degree in political science. He is currently seeking a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.